Many observers predicted that the hardest case would be with Daniyar Usenov, followed by Ishengul Boljurova, who failed to pass the parliament last autumn for the same positions. However, the parliament didn’t seem to be edgy with President’s colleagues, failing only one out of four. Last time, Mr. Usenov’s misfortune revolved around his alleged involvement in business machinations with the South-Kyrgyz Cement factory, where, parliamentarians believed, Mr. Usenov pushed through his own personal interest, serving as leverage for a Kazakh businessman. The parliamentarians revealed that the latter’s wife was one of the shareholders of the factory.

Daniyar Usenov is known as a successful businessman and acknowledged economist, who is one of the largest shareholders of the “Ineksim” Bank. After the March 2005 events, as acting First Deputy Minister, he was assigned to lead the commission to uncover the “family businesses” of former president Askar Akayev. Despite consolidating a notorious name for alleged business machinations, he remains in favor with the incumbent president, judging by the latter’s tenacious objective to push him through.

It was the second time that Ishengul Boljurova could not pass through the parliament, as many believe, because of her closeness with the former rulers. After the March events, she had assumed the position of acting Deputy Prime Minister, but failed to receive parliamentary approval in autumn 2005. During Akayev’s tenure, she worked as Dean of the Bishkek Humanitarian University, and was then promoted to the post of Minister of Education. But when she fell out favor with the former president’s family and was dismissed, she joined the lines of the opposition.

Mr. Medetbek Kerimkulov, who became full-fledged Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, is known as a person who is far from political intrigues. He also did not face much difficulty while being appointed as the first Deputy Minister last time around, while his co-appointees encountered stark opposition from the parliament.

Nevertheless, his relationship with Prime Minister Felix Kulov is considered to be murky since the trial of Felix Kulov during Mr. Akaev’s regime, where Mr. Kerimkulov gave evidence against Mr. Kulov, who had been Major of Bishkek while the former was his assistant.

Mr. Azim Isabekov, who also earned the parliament’s approval for the position of Minister of Agriculture, Water resources, and Processing Industry, is relatively new in politics. Compared with other appointees, his success was more or less predicted.

It is said that President Kurmanbek Bakiev rescheduled the acting ministers’ exposition to parliament’s will because of the constant pressure from the opposition in the parliament. The opposition had made the president’s intention to table the issue until Fall a major item in the recent demonstrations held in Bishkek.

Nonetheless, despite two thirds of the votes expressing approval, the appointment of Daniyar Usenov as First Deputy Prime Minister sparked criticism among some parliamentarians. Parliamentarian Ishak Masaliev asked in bewilderment if there was a “cadre hunger”, as the president continues to push the same people through parliament. Earlier that day, a parliamentary committee issued a recommendation that Daniyar Usenov and Ishengul Boljurova should not assume their positions. However, after secret balloting, it turned out that Daniyar Usenov gathered enough votes to be appointed.

The reason for this, as Parliamentarian Kubanychbek Isabekov argued, was that the parliamentarians finally decided to meet the expectations of the government after the widespread notion that parliament was too surly about the latter. However, as mass media reporting recalled, Isabekov himself worked on improving his image among parliamentarians by building friendly relationships with them.

Now, the president has to propose another person for the position of Deputy Prime Minister in two weeks, whereas the newly approved ministers are highly expected to fulfill their promises, given growing dissatisfaction of parliamentarians over what the government is doing.